Between Roscommon town and Boyle is the medieval village of Tulsk whose hinterland boasts Connaught’s largest important historical complex, Rathcroghan, the ancient burial place of Kings, Warrior Queen Medb’s stronghold and the origination of Halloween. Rathcroghan Ancient Irish site: Rathcroghan, the ‘Sacred Capital of Connaught’, is the oldest and largest unexcavated royal site in Ireland and predates […]
A Derry great city…
Derry is fast emerging out of the shadows of neighbouring Belfast as a great all-year-round Northern Ireland city-break destination (especially for Halloween), with its important history, the famous 400-year-old walls and the warmth and welcome of its people. I spent two nights there to experience the city and it’s world-famous Halloween festival. Derry (or London […]
Belfast is best for 2018
Belfast city Cities can evolve at pace when the right social, economic, entrepreneurial and creative conditions are allowed to prevail. These in turn foster progress, confidence and optimism for the future. This is Belfast today almost two decades after the historic Good Friday Agreement – a modern outward-looking city that is putting its best foot […]
Inis Oírr (Inisheer) is a little Atlantic jewel and the real Craggy Island
Inis Oírr (or Inisheer) is the smallest of the Aran islands and a little gem of a place, it’s easy to get to for that real off-the-mainland feeling and some proper wild Atlantic way energy and beauty. Fancy getting off the mainland for a day out or a couple of nights but don’t want to […]
Take a holiday, or a handy break in your Ireland and get ready to be surprised and delighted…
When was the last time that you seriously considered a holiday in Ireland for a change, swapping Salou for Sligo or the South of France for the South of Ireland? Some of us have forgotten what it’s like to take a holiday in our own country. Many may not even have been on one since […]
Waterford is our oldest city and the jewel in the crown of Ireland’s Ancient South East
Welcome to my blog post on the wonders of Waterford City – We visited the Viking Triangle, the Home of Waterford Crystal, the Medieval Museum, the Bishops Palace, Christchurch Cathedral as well as local restaurants, cafes and bars. We also took a day trip out along the Copper Coast and visited the Waterford towns of […]
There’s never been a better time to eat out in Ireland, just a pity about some of the service…
Dining out in Ireland is a joy for the most part – it’s just unfortunate that the service in some of our cafés, restaurants and hotels often falls short leaving us feeling a bit unloved and unappreciated. The quality and selection of food available in Irish restaurants and cafés has come a very long way […]
The wonders of coming home for an Irish Christmas…
A collection of thoughts and memories on coming home for an Irish Christmas and its special connection with our diaspora. Many things have changed in Ireland, especially in the last decade or more with the ever-increasing involvement of technology and the internet in our daily lives. Then there’s the old adage, ‘the more things change […]
Peace of mind on North Clare’s Flaggy Shore
If you’re in North Clare or South Galway and looking for an idyllic place to spend a leisurely afternoon or morning strolling around then head for the Flaggy Shore. The area is in the Burren is between New Quay (named after new quay built there in 1837) and Finavarra Point in Co. Clare. This is a […]
Discover a different and truer West Cork the Bantry way…
The West Cork town of Bantry lies at the head of the expansive Bantry Bay, one of the deepest natural harbours in Europe. It is pretty west, even for West Cork and this factor has shaped Bantry down the generations. While the town may not be as postcard-pretty as its more touristy West Cork neighbours, […]